The Anniversary of Our Wedding

Thomas and I met back in October of 1989. I moved to Santa Fe in December of 1989 which is when we began our lives together. Then in May of 2004 the State of Massachusetts legalized same sex marriage. Not long after Thomas asked me if I wanted to get married. Of course I said yes and the planning began.

October 11, 2004 - Provincetown, MA

We talked to a few friends and family and made arrangements for a ceremony in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was an incredible day - even though the marriage was only legal in Massachusetts it was still a moving and emotional time for both of us. And to have our friends and family with us, supporting us made it that much more special. Today we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, a very special day as our marriage is now legal in both New Mexico and the United States. At the end of this year we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary as a couple. It amazes me that things have changed as much as they have with rights and protections for the gay community. I never really believed that I would see all of this in my lifetime. The rants of the moral majority about the sanctitiy of marriage has become laughable to me. There are so many marriages that end in divorce and it angers me that they believe that a commited gay couple getting married will wreck the sanctity of marriage. An opposite sex marriage has all the support and blessing of society - so why can't these straight people make it work. Thomas and I have had to overcome being beaten up, called names and told we are abominations and yet we have been in a loving, commited relationship for almost 25 years and now legally married for 10. And I don't think our marriage has in any way lessened anyone else's marriage. I am very proud of the life Thomas and I have built together and I look forward to the day that our marriage is legal in all 50 states. Thomas, I love you with all my heart - thank you for everything.

Aspen Beauty

one gold
  aspen coin
woodland currency
for a priceless
moment

Mandy Haggith

I love fall in New Mexico and one of the reasons is the changing color of the aspens. This past week as I ran errands I could see the mountain turning yellow and knew that I had to get up there this weekend and have a closer look. So this morning Thomas and I had breakfast in town and then headed up Hyde Park Road. We drove all the way up to the ski basin and then back down. We stopped along the way to admire the beauty and to take pictures. We went on several little walks in the areas where the color was the most vibrant. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning. Here are some pictures that I took along the drive.

Rooftop Balloon Fiesta Breakfast

Thomas got an invitation through work from Wilson & Company to attend a rooftop Balloon Fiesta breakfast. He was also able to bring guest, so myself and a friend of ours went along with him. We left Santa Fe around 6:00am and arrived at the breakfast a few minutes before 7:00am. During our drive to Albuquerque it drizzled most of the way and we thought that the balloons probably wouldn't got up. But when we arrived the skies were clear and the Dawn Patrol was up. On the second floor of the building they had breakfast set up. There was a variety of breakfast burritos, fruit, muffins, pastry, french toast and juices & coffee. It was actually a delicious breakfast. We sat and visitied with other poeple and people from the company came around and greeted us. We also got a balloon breakfast pin. After eating we went up to the roof and watched the balloons take off. We loved it! Usually we go to the field and watch the fiesta - this was totally different and incredible. Seeing the balloons from atop a roof gave a whole new perspective. It was an incredible morning. Here are some pictures from the fiesta. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of the reasons that I love the Fall in New Mexico.